True Replacement Theology
by Craig Hanson 11/11/16
When we at We Hold These Truths present our concerns on the dangers and un-biblical nature of Christian Zionism to churches that are hosting a Christians United For Israel (CUFI) event, we are often dismissed as being adherents of a teaching known as “Replacement Theology”. These attacks are usually presented as follows: “Those who are against our (CUFI’s) message, believe that the Church has replaced the Jews and are just like the anti-semites of the past.” Usually what follow is a recounting of a litany of anti-Jewish actions by the Church over the last two thousand years, and then, a commitment by CUFI to not let such anti-semitism happen again.
So what’s wrong with CUFI’s assessment of the anti-zionist message of We Hold These Truths? First, this is a straw-man argument. They misrepresent what true replacement theology is, and then show why it is wrong. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about what is replacing what. In the book of Hebrews (written to Jewish followers of Christ) we find in Hebrews 8:6-13:
But as it is, Christ[b] has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
So what we read above, is that which is being replaced is the Old covenant with a New covenant. NOT the Jews by the Church! In fact, the early Church was composed mostly of Jews who had embraced Jesus as their Messiah.
In Rob Dalrymple’s excellent book, These Brothers of Mine: A Biblical Theology of Land and Family and a Response to Christian Zionism, on page 96, he states:
To read the OT as though the NT did not exist is to deny the very essence of the Scriptures––namely, that the Scriptures are about Jesus. One cannot completely understand the OT without the NT.
He devotes a complete chapter of his book to the subject of Replacement Theology, in which he explains that it really the Christian Zionist position that truly wants to differentiate between Judaism and Christianity as two separate peoples of God.
The New Testament clearly states in:
Romans 10:11-13:
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Galatians. 3:28:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Colossians. 3:11:
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
When talking to Christian Zionists, I like to point out that the people of God have ALWAYS been the people of faith and those obedient to God.
Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Craig believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness too! And also to anyone else who calls upon the name of the Lord. (see: Genesis. 15:6, Galatians 3:6, James 3:23)
Gal. 3:7-9:
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
The old franchise with Judaism was made obsolete with the death and resurrection of Jesus, with the final blow being the destruction of the temple, with all of its associated sacrifices, in A.D.70.
Luke 22:19-20:
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood”.
Listen to Craig Hanson’s fascinating journey out of bondage to a Christian Zionist theology:
Replacement theology is the perseverance in machinations of the devil. Lies and delusions which represent him and this new church is again the fulfillment of Christ Jesus admonition of the last days. Is it not?
Sadly, the author selected the epistle of Paul in Hebrew and the apparent frustration of Paul to convert his brethren. And the misleading reference to Old Testament prophecy.
Jesus describes in John (gospel) what no church has ever taught or were already prejudiced against for he does not try to reconcile the Jew or Israel but through these last words of prophecy his works and ministry are finished and seals their condemnation.
Replacement theology is science and I am not that objective. It is blasphemy ,damnable sekts and reprobate heresy. It is literally the manifestation of the grand delusion. Is it not?
All my life I am doubted because I am not happy, do not demonstrate the Lord’s gift of JOy. These replacement people, apostates , Israel worshipers have their new savior that they exhibit with out shame and they are happy and campaign for Israel like the foolish youth their god sent politician.. Only fools should be happy in these days of tribulation and satisfied when the world around is a catastrophe . Only Israel and the Jew smile that enigmatic smile. Is this why all the “Christians” want to emulate them?
When we look closer at the Jewish faith, something stands out right away. After the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 by the Roman 10th Legion under Titus, the Jewish faith ceased to be what it was up to that point. The major hallmark of Judaism prior to 70 was the Jerusalem Temple, where they offered sacrifice. The entire religion was focused on this one essential. They also had a king and a land, which helped them form into a religious nation.
However, once the Romans were done, Judaism as the religion of the Covenant no longer existed. Gone were the Temple, Temple sacrifice and the Jewish priesthood. These were the hallmarks, the essential undisputed religious aspects of being a Jew. No Temple, no sacrifice, no priesthood, no Judaism. What replaced it in history is what has come down to us today, i.e., so-called Rabbinic Judaism. This is not the Judaism of the Covenant. It is a man-made religion of the Pharisees, the only Jewish sect other than the Nazarenes (Palestinian Christians’ ancestors, See: THE STONES CRY OUT movie website) to survive the fall of Jerusalem.
But what about the Covenant God made with Abraham? Did that Covenant cease to exist? Did God retreat from his promise to Abraham? Never! Each day at Vespers (Evening Prayer), the Magnificat is sung or read, that beautiful portion of Luke’s Gospel, where Mary, a young Jewish girl, cries out that God has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. We often fail to grasp the deep significance of this.
THE PROMISE OF THE COVENANT IS FULFILLED IN THE CHURCH. WE ARE THE CONTINUATION OF ISRAEL. “I HAVE CHOSEN YOU!” (Jn 15:16).
There is an unbroken chain from Abraham to us. For 40 years, the first members of the Church in Jerusalem were all Jewish, religious Jews. They went to the Temple daily, prayed the prayers of the Covenant, etc. But the worship was made complete in the Holy Eucharist, the remembrance of the one true Sacrifice on the Cross. Thus, nothing was lost, in the sense of the Covenant, when Jerusalem was destroyed.
Not that the Covenant was switched to a new group, as in so-called “Replacement Theology”, rather that only a few former members of the Covenant stayed faithful. The vast majority rejected the Covenant, as highlighted when their leaders shouted: “We have no king but Caesar.” Yet the Covenant was continued in the few Jews who remained faithful to it by recognizing the Messiah, including Mary and the Apostles. Then God added to their number a multiplicity of gentiles.
THE COVENANT WAS NEVER REVOKED BY GOD. It was abandoned by the overwhelming majority of the people called to it. However, it is still today CONTINUED IN THE ONE HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH (of the Nicene Creed), the Israel of God (Gal 6:16).
We have a priesthood, the sacrifice, the Temple (Christ’s Body), and this is because Judaism was built on waiting for Messiah, who would come to restore his kingdom. This happened over 2000 years ago. The Jews who accepted him became the Church. The Jews who rejected him, having voted themselves out of the Covenant, went off and started a man-made religion. Rabbinic Judaism is today’s Jewish religion with its own “Replacement Theology”, replacing the destroyed Jerusalem Temple with the Talmud and later, the Israeli state. Modern Judaism is to ancient Judaism what Protestantism is to Catholicism. Sometimes, it looks a lot like it, but at its core, it is quite different.
You left out Romas 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
More to come . .
There is a big miss understanding in the book of Revelation that is causing present day problems. Because of this, many Christians believe Jesus is yet to come. That is why Christian Zionism supports Israel. The mistake is that they feel Rome is the “Great City.” However, Rev.11:8 clearly makes Jerusalem the Great City. This city and God’s temple were clearly destroyed by 70 AD. We NOW live in the New Age! So read Revelation as already over.
Dear fellow Christians,
There are over 100 immanency verses in our New Testament. I cannot find any vss. indicating a delayed time. Not one.
The Great city that was destroyed is found in Rev. 11:8, and why God was behind this destruction is found in Rev. 17:17, 18. In Rev. 21:1, the new heaven and earth replaced the old. Of course we are rally reading symbolic language.
I have been supporting peace in Israel/Palestine for over 25 years. I found God’s truth and realized Christian support of Israel instead of supporting our Palestinian Christians sisters and brothers about 10 years ago.
I have prepared three articles I would like to attach to you if possible. One is an 18 page summary of Josephus. An 8 page summary of Rev. and a 2 page list of fulfillments in Revelation. I have been passing these out to churches in Beaverton, Oregon. In and for Christ, Doug Willbanks
11771 S. W. Boones Bend Dr. Beaverton, Ore 97008 ph. # 1-503-646-5634.